It is also a massive money maker for the NCAA. This year, March Madness has created a schizophrenic double feature for the NCAA – the creation of excitement and mind-boggling revenue, crushed by a pandemic that created fear among the masses and produced unfathomable financial losses.

There was no way to avoid or calculate the financial disaster this is for the NCAA.  It was hoped that the games would go on, but in empty arenas, which is what the National College Players Association thought was a pretty good idea. In a statement, they made their point.

“In the wake of the emerging coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA and its colleges should take precautions to protect college athletes. They should also make public which actions will be taken and when. Precautions should include cancelling all auxiliary events that put players in contact with crowds such as meet and greets and press events. Athletic programs should also take every possible measure to sanitize buses and airplanes used to transport players.”

It was too little, too late.

First, Google cancelled a summit in California and Amazon encouraging its employees to avoid all nonessential travel because of coronavirus concerns.

Horror stories of the virus that spread in China and South Korea were followed swiftly by news from Italy, which made the unprecedented move of barring fans from gathering in the country’s soccer arenas as a foreshadow of coming events when the entire country went on shutdown mode. In Greece, spectators were banned from the Olympic Torch lighting ceremony.

The handwriting was on the wall. Like a patient receiving a grim diagnosis, major league sports in America went through stages of denial, anger, bargaining and finally acceptance. The NBA suspended its season after a top player tested positive for COVID-19. The next day, the NHL, MLB, MLS, U.S. Soccer, and multiple tennis associations shut down as well. And the NCAA canceled March Madness.

While the rest of America wonders why there is not enough testing available for those who need it, athletes are at the front of the line for access to the coronavirus testing. How are nonsymptomatic professional athletes getting tests while others are waiting in line and can’t get them? Do the well-connected go to the front of the line?” NBC's Peter Alexander asked President Trump who noted, “No, I wouldn’t say so, but perhaps that’s the story of life. That does happen on occasion.”

Happening “on occasion” is still unacceptable. And as attractive as it might be to assemble a virus-free team and staff to ressurrect professional sports teams to playing part or all of their seasons in empty arenas or stadiums play during these troubled times, it is no substitute for equal access to disease treatment and testing that will save lives.

What it all goes to show is that March Madness is not just confined to what happens on the court, it is also alive and well in the court of public opinion and policy. Sports is just a microcosm of society at large, but it may be time to get our game face on to deal with this unconventional and dangerous opponent.  •

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